Whether a scan body can be reused depends on the exact product and its instructions. A brand-wide answer can become misleading when a manufacturer introduces another material or product generation.
There is a concrete example in Straumann's documentation: a guide covering PEEK Mono scan bodies describes single use, while the US listing for titanium REF 065.0103 describes a reusable replacement. Match the reference before deciding which instruction applies.
Two documents can describe different products
| Documented product | What the source states | Boundary of that evidence |
|---|---|---|
| CARES Mono PEEK scan bodies, including RB/WB 065.0035 | The handling guide specifies single use. | It describes the products included in that guide. |
| Titanium scan body REF 065.0103 | The US catalog lists it as reusable and as a replacement for the PEEK Mono scan body. | A catalog description does not supply the complete reprocessing protocol. |
| An unidentified scan body | Its authorized use has not been established. | Material or resemblance cannot substitute for its reference and instructions. |
The comparison uses the manufacturer's intraoral-scanbody handling guide and the REF 065.0103 product listing. It does not establish that every titanium scan body is reusable or that every PEEK product has the same label.
What needs checking before another case
For a product whose reuse is authorized, obtain the current instructions applicable to that reference and market. Confirm the cleaning and processing requirements, inspection criteria and any stated service-life limits. If a numerical cycle limit is not established by the applicable instructions, do not borrow one from another scan body.
Keep the identification and processing history connected to the physical item. A loose collection of visually similar scan bodies makes it harder to establish which screw, connection and protocol belong together.
The CDC's single-use guidance makes the distinction between disposable devices and devices with validated reprocessing instructions. Sterilizing a single-use scan body does not change its use label.
Processing status does not establish scan suitability
The physical scan body must also be suitable for the intended connection and software workflow. The manufacturer's handling guide addresses undamaged components, seating and correct software selection. A completed processing cycle does not prove that a worn or incorrect part will produce the intended position record.
- Confirm the part reference and connection level.
- Inspect the component using the criteria in its instructions.
- Verify the physical part against the selected digital library.
- Resolve uncertain seating or identification before accepting the scan.
This article addresses the use status of the scanning component. Our implant-level and MUA scan guide deals with another decision: which restorative level the workflow records.
When the documents seem to conflict
Send the manufacturer the physical reference, the document identifier and the unresolved question. Ask which current instructions govern that product. A general answer about the brand cannot settle a mismatch between two references.
Keep the supplier's clarification with the product record. For the separate distinction between supplied sterility and authorized use, see sterile and single-use implant parts.
Sources checked October 13, 2026. The catalog comparison is product-specific and does not authorize a reprocessing cycle.